Air conditioning system for subdivided inhabitable enclosures



y 1965 R. w. KRITZER 3,181,604

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR SUBDIVIDED INHABITABLE ENCLOSURES Filed Jan.8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet l WEST EXPOSURE /2-- 20 EAST EXPOSURE a4 7 :846-? g5??? 76 O Y L76 9o /04 If? a; 404- I 7 0 7a 32 l fa; T :4 34 /2-P/CHARD W. AR/TZER May 4, 1965 R. w. KRITZER 3,181,604

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR SUBDIVIDED INHABITABLE ENCLOSURES Filed Jan.8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. l-P/CHARD W K/P/ TIER y 1965 R. w.KRITZER 3,181,604

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR SUBDIVIDED INHABITABLE ENCLOSURES Filed Jan.8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet I5 5 [66/720 I F 5' I /40 INVEN TOR. R/CHARD w.KR/TZFR United States Patent 3,181,604 AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FOR SUB-DIVIDED INHABITABLE ENCLOSURES Richard W. Kritzer, Chicago, IlL,assignor to Peerless of America, Incorporated, a corporation of IllinoisFiled .Ian. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 164,843 1 Claim. (Cl. 16522) The improvedair conditioning system comprising the present invention has beendesigned for use primarily in connection with a modern multi-storyapartment building, a single or multi-story motel, a house or otherbuilding which is subdivided into individual inhabitable quarters orenclosures, the present day architectural trend in designing such abuilding being well adapted to accommodate the principles of the presentinvention. The invention is, however, capable of other uses and an airconditioning system embodying such principles may, with or withoutmodification, be employed for cooling, dehumidifying and heating anoflice building, a factory building, a large residential building or anyother subdivided inhabitable enclosure where the comfort of human lifeis to be considered Whether the building be of the multistory type orwhether all of the enclosures thereof be at a single level.Irrespective, however, of the particular use to which the invention maybe put, the essential features thereof are at all times preserved.

Where large inhabitable buildings are concerned, and Where suchbuildings are supplied with both heating and cooling facilities for theindividual subdivisions or apartments thereof, two types of airconditioning systems are now commonly in use. While the individualinstallations may vary widely in the details thereof, the system,nevertheless, may be broadly classified as either a four-pipe systom ora three-pipe system, depending upon the number of feed and return pipeswhich are used for feeding the heating and cooling media generally toand returning the same from the individual apartments which are to beheated or cooled at will.

In the four-pipe system, a hot water feed pipe and a hot water returnpipe carry the water in a closed path through whatever heat exchangedevice may be installed in the individual apartments and the use of suchhot water is under the selective control of the individual tenant who,by opening or closing a valve or valves, may cause the hot water to becirculated through the heat exchang units of his individual localizedheating installation. The hot water employed for this tenant-controlledheating is furnished by the management and generally emanates from awater heater or boiler which usually is installed in the basement of thebuilding. Chilled water is similarly furnished by the management andthis water generally emanates from a cooler which is also usuallylocated in the basement of the building. The chilled water is pumped tothe heat exchange units in the individual apartments through feed andreturn pipes which are entirely separate from the riser and return pipesfor the hot water and thus,

collectively, four such feed and return pipes are embodied in such asystem. The heat exchange devices or units in the individual apartmentswhich serve for heating the air to be circulated through the apartmentsin some instances arc the same heat exchange devices which serve forcooling such air. In other installations, separate heat exchange devicesare employed for heating and cooling respectively. In either event, fourmanifold or feed and return pipes are employed in the system and,invariably, the feed pipes for hot and cold water respectively, andsometimes the return pipes, are heavily insulated or jacketed to preventheat losses. In a four-pipe system of this character, the tenant, byturning suitable valves, may establish or discontinue the heating orcooling effect, but his control is usually subject to the seasonalcontrol by sustain Patented May 4, 1965 the management which supplieshot or cold water according to its own dictates as determined by theWeather.

In a three-pipe system, the basement installation, including the boilerand Water cooler, remains the same as in the four-pipe system. A hotWater feed pipe and a cold water feed pipe furnish hot and cold water,respectively, to the various heat exchange devices in the individualapartments, but a common return pipe is employed for both hot and coldwater. Again, it is found necessary heavily to insulate or jacket thefeed pipes. Likewise, as in the case of a four-pipe system, the limitedtenant control whereby the tenant may initiat or discontinue heat ing orcooling effects, is subject to management control on a seasonal basis.In the three-pipe system, quick change-over operations from heating tocooling and vice versa are not possible inasmuch as it frequentlyrequires many hours for the system to rid itself of heat when cooling isto be initiated, or to assimilate heat after a period of cooling.Furthermore, the individual tenant is not always aware of any act takenby the management with respect to the system as a whole and, unlessnotified by the management, he may not be apprised of the fact thateither cooling or heating facilities are available to him.

Both the four-pipe system and the three-pipe system briefly outlinedabove are possessed of numerous disadvantages, principal among which isthe high cost of the initial installation, as Well as the cost ofmaintenance. Additionally, in any temperate zone climate, there areoil-seasonal periods when certain tenants may have a demand for heatingwhile other tenants may, at the same time, have a requirement forcooling. It frequently happens that the tenants who are located on theeast side of an apartment building will have a demand for cool airduring morning hours when the sun is on their side of the building,while at the same time, the tenants on the west side of the buildingwill have a demand for hot air. Conversely, during the afternoon hours,the tenants on the east side of the building may feel the need for heatwhile the tenants on the west side of the building may require or desirecooling. In the four-pipe system, the necessary selective controls forboth heating and cooling may be made available to the tenant by themanagement but only at the comparatively great cost of maintaining boththe heating plant and the cooling plant in simultaneous operation. Inactual practice, few managements Will go to such expense. In thethree-pipe system, such selective controls are not effective to thetenant even if the management were willing to maintain both the heatingand the cooling system in simultaneous operation, such unavailabilitybeing due to the aforementioned length of time required for change-overoperations, and also to the fact that the mixing of hot and cold waterin the return pipe lowers the eificiency of the water circulating systemin both the heating and the cooling plants.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-notedlimitations that are attendant upon the construction and use of bothfour and three-pipe systems of air conditioning and, toward this end, itcontemplates the provision of a two-pipe system involving the use ofonly a feed pipe and a return pipe in series in a closed hydrauliccircuit, the water furnished by the feed pipe being made available tothe individual tenants on a seasonal basis for direct use for heatingpurposes, or for indirect use by the tenant for cooling purposes, thetenant thus being able, optionally, to use such water either for heatingor for cooling, according to his individual preference. Thus, accordingto the present invention, although the same Water at a given temperatureis furnished to all of the apartments in common, certain tenants,feeling the need for heat, may use this Water for heating purposes,while other ten-ants, feeling the need for cooling, may use the samewater for cooling purposes.

Generally speaking, the improved two-pipe airconditioning systemembodying the present invention comprises a feed pipeand a return pipein series and the vicinity or proximity of the various buildingenclosures (apartments) to be air conditioned; means for flowingmoderately warm current which is used infoperating the air conditioner,

water (85 to9.0.,F.) successively through the feed and enclosure, an airconditioning unit disposed in each enreturn'pipes; a heat exchangedevice disposed in each enclosure, connected toreceive water-fromthefeed pipe and to return the, water to. the return pipe, and adapted yhen rendered operative to heat the air in its associated closure,embodying a water-cooled condenser, having the a condenser: connected toreceive Water from the feed pipe and to return the water to the returnpipe, and adapted ,when rendered operativeto, cool the 'air in itsassociated enclosure; and means associated with each-enclosure forselectively rendering operative the heat exchange device or the airconditioning unit of the associated enclosure.

Briefly, in carrying out the invention, it iscontemplated that themanagement shall have control over a supply of water and be able eitherto heat suchwater .orvto i.e., in operating the electric motor whichdrives the refrigerant compressor and the current which is usedinopcrating the fan which circulates'the air through the cooler. It isthe individualcooler in each apartment which, in the last analysis,performs the'cooling function. on the air undergoing circulation. Thesingle water cooler or; T

chiller under the control themanagement need be used ;only" tomaintainthe water" in the closed circuit or pipe system'below apredetermined maximum on'th'e order of from 85 to 90 F., providingsuchwater is not automatically maintained below such temperature by normaltenant'us'e. Frequently, and for' long periods ofytime,

the system willmaintain' itself in a condition of balance wherein themanagement need neitherheat or cool the water in thejsystem inasmuch assuch tenants as are-using their equipment for cooling purposes willdischarge hot 7 water'intothe return pipe, such water having been heated'by heat exchange phenomena incidentto cooling of the hot compressedrefrigerant in the condenser. Conversely, suchqtenants as are usingtheir equipment for heating cool it to a desired or predeterminedtemperaturelona seasonal basis. For this purpose, .there may; be,provided a water heater or boiler and a water cooler or chiller, bothinstrument-alities being preferably. located in the basepurposes will.discharge relatively cool ,water into the 'return pipe. Ininstancessuchashave been briefly outlined above where the tenants on the oppositesides of thebuildment of the building in which the system is installed.

Additional equipment under the control of the management includes a pumpand suitable valve means whereby either the boiler or the cooler, eachto the exclusion of a the other, maybe placed in series in a closedhydraulic circuit including the feed andv return pipes which are commonto all of the apartments The valve means also is operable to excludeboth the boiler and the cooler from the closed circuit flow of Waterthrough the feed and'return pipes. Each tenant has under his ownexclusive control two heat exchange units, one for heating purposesand'the other for coolingpurposes, and a fan or. blower common to bothunits. The heater, which is employed for heating purposes, willhereinafter be referred to simply as the hot water-heater, or simply theheater, is oppipe.

ing havedifferent airconditioning requirements, one group havingfademand [forheat' and-.the other group having thermostatic control'of thetemperature of the water in the 'eratively connected to thefeed pipe andto the return A shut-off valve in series with the heater, when" open,allows the water to' flowfrom the feed pipe through theheater and to bedischarged to the return pipe. 'Theheat exchange unit which is employedfor cooling purposes will hereinafter be referred to as the water cooleror:simply the cooler constitutes the evaporator unit of a completeso-called' electricallypowered air conditioner of conventional designand including a compressor, a Water-cooled condenser, an expansion valveor its equivasystem during in-between season weather where the water isto be maintained 'within a predetermined temperature range" where it isavailable tothe tenants on a selective basis for either heating orcooling purposes as determined 'by the individual tenants. If the waterin the return pipe runs too hot so that the necessary temperatureditferential for-eifective and economical cooling of the condenser tubescannot be maintained, provision is made for cutting in the master watercooler to bring the temperature of such water down to the predeterminedrange. Conversely, if the water in the return pipe runs too cold'for usei by the tenants in their respective heaters,.provision is lent, andtheabove-mentioned evaporator unit or cooler.

The compressor, condenser, expansion valve. and evaporato! or coolerareoperativelyconnected together in series 111 a refrigerant circuit in theusual manner of connecting such;instrumentalities, and the water phaseof the.

water-cooled condenser is operatively connectedrto the means. a g V 7With this equipment under his exclusiveicontrol, each tenant may openone valve and allow water at a seasonally predetermined temperature; toflow through the heater for heating purposes or, alternatively, he may,by.closing that valveand opening another valve, supplysthe same water tothe water-cooled condenserof his air" conditioning equipment forremoving heat from the compressed refrigerant'which flows to thecondenser from the compressor so that after the thus cooled andcompressed refri erant has passed through the expansion valve andentered the evaporator, the desired cooling effect will'be attained.

Many advantages accrue from such a two-pipelsystem,

feed and return pipes under controlof suitable valve both from thestandpoint of the management and of the various tenants. From themanagements point of view, a

distinct advantage resides inthe fact that the major'cost 1 of coolingthe air in any given apartment' is almost entire.-

ly borne by each tenantwho must pay for the electrical 7 made'forcutting in the water heater or boiler to bring the temperature of suchwaterup to the predetermined range. Thislea ves onlywell definedseasonal temperature differentials' for the management to reckon with. Afinal advantage ofthe present heating system to the management residesin the fact that only two manifold pipes are required and neither ofthese need be insulated or jacketed because the water flowing throughthe closed circuit or pipe system is always above the dew point.

From the tenants point of view, the system has the advantagetthat,during middle temperature periods, it is elective with him whether. theair in his quarters be heated or cooled and this election on his part isavailab1e to. him twenty-four hours during each day when there is a'possibilitythat hemayjrequire one or the ;other" type of flairconditioning." The election is made unavailable to him only during'extremely'cold weather, i.e.,midwintertemperatures when the managementnormally is supplying hot water for heating purposes and it isreasonably certain that no tenant will'have a demand for coolingeffects.V j

[1A further advantage of the present system accruing to both themanagement and the tenant arises from the fact that at no time when thesystem is in operation and during normal use thereof will thetemperature of Water in the system fall below thcdew point, either inthe feed,

pipe or the return pipe or in the lead-in or branch pipes leading to theindividual apartments. For this reason not only is there no need forpipe insulation at any point in the system, but no drainage system formoisture condensation is required.

The provision of an air conditioning system such as has briefly beenoutlined above and possessing the stated advantages being among theprincipal objects of the invention, numerous other objects andadvantages will become readily apparent as the following descriptionensues.

In the accompanying three sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification one illustrative embodiment of the invention has beenshown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken through a typicalinhabitable enclosure of the apartment building type and showing,somewhat schematically, the improved air cooling and heating systemoperatively installed therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view, also schematic in its representation,of certain tenant-controlled equipment employed in connection with thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially centrallythrough a control valve employed in connection with the presentinvention and showing the same in the condition it assumes whenthesystem is being operated on a seasonal basis for apartment heatingpurposes only;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the controlvalve in the condition it assumes when the system is being operated on aseasonal basis for apartment cooling purposes only;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing thecontrol valve in the condition it assumes during in-between seasonoperation;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical circuit for asolenoid-actuated control valve employed in connection with the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the electrical circuit for one of aseries of control thermostats employed in connection with the invention.

Brief description Referring now to the drawings in detail, and inparticular to FIG. 1, a preferred form of the present invention has beensomewhat schematically shown as being applied to the air conditioning ofa typical multi-story apartment building, the building beingfragmentarily shown and designated in its entirety by the referencenumeral 10. As heretofore indicated, the present air conditioning systemis capable of being used in a single-story building. As shown in FIG. 1,only the central portion of the building 10 in the vicinity of theground floor and second floor levels of the building has beenillustrated, but it will be understood that the building may extend upward to any desired floor level. Two opposed inside building walls 12and 14 form a part of a generally rectangular ventilating shaft 16, sucha shaft being conventional and usually being disposed in the masonry ofthe building. The shaft 16 may constitute one of several such shaftsassociated with the building 10. The shaft 16 may, if desired,communicate with the atmosphere above the building roof so that theshaft may constitute a passageway for air to assist in ventilating thevarious apartments in associated relation with the shaft but, ifdesired, the upper end of the shaft may be closed to the atmosphere. Ineither event, the shaft 16 extends at least to a point above the levelof the uppermost apartment floor and preferably to a point adjacent tothe uppermost apartment ceiling. A feed pipe 18 for water extendsupwardly through the ventilating shaft 16 and has its upper endconnected through a reduction orifice device R to the upper end of areturn pipe 20 which also extends through the ventilating shaft 16. Thefeed and return pipes constitute portions of a closed circuit watersupply or pipe system as will be described presently.

In the illustrated portion of the building, the ground floor 19constitutes the ceiling for the basement enclosure 22. A second floor 24constitutes a ceiling for two apartment enclosures 26 and 28. A thirdfloor 30 constitutes a ceiling for two additional apartment enclosures32 and 34. The building may have additional floors and apartmentenclosures above the previously-mentioned doors and apartmentenclosures. The layout or plan of the various floors 19, 24 and 30 maybe substantially identical and it may follow any acceptable apartmentbuilding layout, the various apartment subdivisions or walls whichdivide the apartments into kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms,etc. remaining undisclosed herein since the details thereof do notaffect the air conditioning system of the present invention. The presentair conditioning system is available, in the form illustrated herein, orin modified forms, for use in connection with a wide variety ofapartment layouts or subdivisions.

The air conditioning system of the present invention includes two setsof instrumentalities, namely, instrumentali'ties which are common to allof the apartments, are operable under the control of the apartmentbuilding management, and are operated by and are the responsibility ofthe janitor, building engineer, superintendent or other similarpersonnel, and instrumentalities which are individual to each apartmentand are operable under the control of the individual tenant. Theinstrumentalities which are operable under the control of the managementof the apartment building are preferably located in the basementenclosure 22 or at least in a separate building enclosure provided forthese instrumentalities. Such instrumentalities include means forselectively heating and cooling the Water whichis supplied to the closedcircuit water system or, specifically, to the feed pipe 18. Theinstrumentalities which are operable under the control of the tenant arelocated in the individual apartment enclosures 26, 28, 32, 34.

Management controlled instrumentalities The instmmentalities which areoperable under the control of the apartment building management includea conventional hot water heater or boiler 40 which is installed on thebasement floor 42 and has the usual lead-in and lead-out hot water pipes44 and 46 associated therewith. The lead-out pipe 46 is connected to oneof four ports of a four-way main control valve V. The valve V hasanother port connected through a pipe 48, a four-way fitting 50, and apipe 52 to the outlet side 54 of a water pump 56 of conventionalconstruction. A third port of the valve V is connected through a pipe 58to a conventional water cooler or chiller 60, this latter pipeconstituting the lead-out pipe for such cooler. vThe lead-in pipe 62 ofthe cooler is connected to the four-way fitting 50. A fourth port of thevalve V is connected directly to the lower end of the feed pipe 18 whichextends upwards through the shaft 16 of the building 10. The return pipe20 has its lower end connected to the inlet side 64 of the water pump56. A main control thermo stat 66, the nature and function of which willbe made clear presently, is interposed in the return pipe 20 and servesas a control instrumentality for the valve V, the latter being of thesolenoidactuated type.

The tenant controlled instrnmentalities The instrumentalities which areoperable under the con trol of the individual tenants occupying theapartment enclosures 26, 28, 32, 34 are identical and, therefore, adescription of one set of such instrumentalities will sutlice for themall. Each apartment enclosure, for example, the enclosure 28, isprovided with a sub-ceiling which is of limited extent and is disposedbelow the level of the ceiling 20. This ub-ceiling 70, in combinationwith a pair of vertical side walls 72 and 74 (see FIG. 2) and an endwall 76, defines an elevated plenum chamber 78, one end of which is openas at and communicates with the interior of the "ventilating shaft 16.The end wall 76 i V is provided with a louvered grille 82' establishingcommunication between the interiof of the plenum chamber 78 and theapartment enclosure 28., Aimotor driven fan assembly which has beendesignated in its entirety bythe reference numeralfiil is disposedimmediately behind the grille 82 and serves, when energized, to drawairfrom the interior of the plenum chamber 78 andforce the satirev intotheapartment enclosure 28. v

Disposed within each plenum chamber 78 is a heat ex change device 90. ofthe finned tubing "type; This heat exchange device, in combination withthe fan; assembly 84, constitutes an air circulating heater and it willhereinafter be referredto as such. The heater 90 is operativelyconnected by a branch conduit 92 to the feed pipe 18,

and by a branch conduit 94 tothe return pipe 20. A shut-01f valve V2iisinterposed in the conduit 92 where it is accessible. to the tenantoccupying the apartmenten closure 28. v Y

Also disposed within the plenum chamber 78 is a complete so-called airconditioning assembly or unit 96 which;

is of'the compressor-condenser-evaporator type and is identifiedil'l'thC drawings by the rectilinear dotted line enclosure of FIG. 2.The unit 96 includes theusual coma pressor' 100', condenser 102 andevaporator 104. These three devices or units of the air conditioningunit are 'may be of any suitable type capableof selectivelyestabglishing communication betweenthe pipes '18 and 48, be-

tween the pipes 18'and 44, or between the pipes 18 and 58. p The valveVselected for illustration herein is of-the solenoid-actuated'tYpe andit includes a valve casing 130 (see FIGS. 3', .4 and Otfgenerally-cylindrical configuration and within which there is disposed arotatable valve body 132.? "The valve body 132-is formed'with an'bffsetpassage 134' therethrough. The valve V is essentially a three-positionvalve and is provided with arcontrol handle 136 which, when in theposition labelled A and shown in'FIG. 3 causes the feed pipe 18 tobeconnected through .the passage 134 to the pipe 48.1eading from thefour-Way w fitting '50; -At the same tirne,'portions of the valve body Stfof ithe pump 56.;

132 block-the ports leading to flthe pipes 46. and 58 sothat thefeedpipe 18 is effectively connected tothe'outp'ut side when the controlhandlef 136 fis in thepos-ition labelled operatively connected togetherin a closed refrigerant circuit including a line 106 which leads fromthe compressor 100' to the condenser 102,;a line 108 which leads fromthe condenser 102 to the. evaporator 104, and a return refrigerant line110 which leads from the evaporator104 back to the compressor 100.- Theusual expansion valve,

112 is interposed in the line 108. The compressor 100-. is adapted to bedriven by means of a belt and pulley conattached at closely spaced,regions a series-of heat-radi-' ating fins 123 which are formed fromflat stock. In the illustrated form of evaporator, the tube stock 1 21is of'serpentine configuration in that it consists of straight parallelreach sections connected together at their adjacent ends by reversebends, only the reverse bend being visible in FIG. 2. Thehea'ter 90' maybe similarly formed of finned tubing. A manual shut-ofi valveVS which isaccessible to the tenantof the apartment; enclosure 28 is interposed inthe conduit 118. The air conditioning unit 96 is purelyconventional andno claim is made.

herein to any novelty associated with the same other than itsassociation withthe overall air conditioning system of the presentinvention, f 7 V p Asa precautionarymeasure, a thermostat 122 isoperativelydisposedin the branch conduit 118 ahead of the valve V3 andoperates to open the electriccircuit for the motor 116 when thetemperature of- Water in the riser pipe: 18 is above apredeterminedmaximumso that the tenant and shown in FIG. 4, the" feedpipef18 is connected" through the passage 134 to the lead-out pipe .46for the boiler 40 While portions of the valve body 132 block the portsleading to the pipes 48 and 58 so that the-feed pipe 7 is effectivelyconnected to'the lead-out pipe extending from the boiler 40. a v, u a 7When the control handle 136 is in theposition labelled C and shown inFIG. 5, the feed, pipe- 18 isconnected through the passage 13 4 tofthelead-out pipe 58 for the cooler 60, while portions of the valve body 132block the ports leading to the pipes46 and 48. 'Theteed pipe 18 is thuseffectively connected to fthe cooler .60.

As shown in FIG. 6, the control valve V is operable under the controlofa dual solenoid winding 140 having sections B and C. "The'valve body132 is normally biased so that-when neither sectionof the solenoidwinding 140 is energized, the valve assumes the condition wherein it isillustrated inFIG. 3 with the control handle 136 in-theposition'indicated at A,; The. closed circuit for 7 water in the. systemwill then bethr'ough the pump 56 and the feed and return pipes 18 and tothe exclusion of will 'be unable to operate'the air conditioningassemblyw 96 unless thetemperature of the cooling water supplied to thecondenser 102 is within a predeterr'nined' eflicient T' cooling range. u

The two heat, exchange units,

and the heater '90 are disposed in tandem relationship and in closeproximity to each: other, so that the fan'asi.e the evaporator:104 Ysembly. 84 may'operate to draw airsuccessively through these units, theair being selectively'heatedor cooled, ac:- p

cording to: which of the units is in operation.

The main: control valve The four-way maincontr-ol valve Vwhich isoperable under control of the, management, either manually orautomatically through the medium of the thermostat 66,

both the heater 40-and the cooler 60. -When the winding section B isenergized, the valve body 1321will assume the position wherein it isshown in F IG. 4 with the control handle in the position indicated at B.The closed circuit for water in the system will then be through thepump56,

the" cooler 60, and the .feed and return pipes 18 and 20.

When the winding section C is energized, the valve body 132 will assumethe position wherein it is shown in FIG.

5 with the control handle in the position indicated at C.

The closed circuit for water in the systemrwill then be through the pump56, boiler 40, and the feed and return pipes 1 8"and 20. v i

7 Thecir cuit' diagi'am of FIG. 6

In FIG. 6, the control circuitry for operating the valve ;V.in orderselectively to operate the boiler 40 and the cooler whenthe' system isset for normal automatic operationhas been disclosed. The thermostat 66may be of any well-known'type, either bulb or contact, and its functionin the system is to shift theposition of the valve body 132 of the valvefrom its normal position wherein the pipes 18 and 48 are incommunication to a position ,wherein the pipes 18 and 46 are incommunication at such time as' the temperature of Waterin the returnpipe 20 fallssbelow the predetermined to F. range, and to shiftthevvalve body to a position wherein the pipes 18 and 58 are incommunication'when the temperature of water in the return pipe risesabove this predetermined range. e a

'The thermostat 66 s elected tor illustration is of themulti-contacttypeemploying a movable bi-metallic strip which is operableat a predetermined low temperature to close the #1 contacts and open the#2 contacts of a'contact group 152, andisoperable at a predeterminedhigher temperature to open the #1 contacts and close the #Zcontacts.Upon -closure of the #1 contacts due to a flexing of the bi-metallicstrip 150, a circuit will exist from one side 11 of the power line,through lead 13, #1 con- .tacts of the contact group 150, leads 15 and17, section pipes 18 and 48, thus establishing a closed hydraulic cir-'described is employed only in the event that the boiler is electricallypowered as, for example, provided with a burner construction, theoperation of which is initiated by electrical means.

Upon closure of the #2 contacts of the contact group 152 due to aflexing of the bi-metallic strip 150, a circuit will extend from theline 11, through lead 13, #2 contacts, lead 35, B section of thesolenoid winding 140, and leads 36, 23, back to the line 25.Energization of B section of the winding 140 will cause operation of thevalve V so as to establish communication between the pipes 18 and 58,thus establishing an hydraulic circuit through the cooler 60 in a mannerthat will be described subsequently. Upon closure of the #2 contacts, aparallel circuit will also extend from the line 11, through lead 13, #2contacts of the contact group 152, lead 37, cooler 60 and leads 39, 33,back to the line 25. The cooler 60 may be comprised of the functionalelements of a complete air conditioning unit including the usual pump,condenser, and evaporator instrumentalities operatively connectedtogether in series in a closed refrigerant circuit.

'A manually operable disabling switch 41 is interposed in a controlvalve circuit, for example, in the lead 23, and may be opened when it isdesired to operate the valve V manually as, for example, when continuousboiler or cooler operation is required.

An overriding control switch 43 may be provided for independentoperation of the boiler 40. This switch may be connected between theline 11 and the lead 29 so that upon closure of this switch 43, acircuit will extend from the line 11, through the switch 43, lead 29,boiler 40 and leads 31, 33, back to the line 25. A similar overridingcontrol switch 45 may be provided for independent operation of thecooler 60 and may extend between the line 11 and the lead 37. Uponclosure of this latter switch, a circuit will extend from the line 11through the switch 45, lead 37, cooler 60 and leads 39, 33, back to theline 25.

An independent circuit may be provided for the pump 56, such circuitextending from the line 11, through lead 47, switch 49, lead 51, pump 56and lead 53 back to the line 25.

Disabling means may be provided for both the boiler 40 and the cooler60. These means may assume the form of disabling switches 55 and 57disposed in the leads 27 and 37, respectively. During automaticoperation of the apparatus, both of these switches will remain closed.

The circuit diagram of FIG. 7

The electrical circuitry, which is operable under the control of theindividual tenant for operating his air conditioning unit 96, is shownin FIG. 7 and includes an electrical circuit for the electric motor 116which drives the compressor 100. This circuit extends from one side of asource S of current, preferably the house current, through a lead 71, apair of contacts '73 in associated relation with the thermostat 122, alead 75, motor 116, and a lead 77 back to the current source. A startingswitch SW is interposed in the leads 71 and 77. The contacts 73 areoperable under the control of a bi-metallic strip 79 and, when thetemperature of water in the branch conduit 118 is above a relativelyhigh temperature, for example, 140 F.,

the contacts 73 become open so that the motor 116 may not be operateddespite closure of the starting switch SW By reason of the thermostaticcontacts 73, useless heat exchange relationships in the condenser 102involving small temperature differentials are avoided.

Operation of the system The system of the present invention issusceptible to flexibility of operation and such operation will bevaried according to seasonal temperature changes. However, purely forpurposes of discussion herein, it may be assumed that the management ofthe apartment house will be prepared to operate the controls which areavailable to it and furnish water within a temperature range of from 140to 160 F. during a cold period and to furnish relatively cold waterWithin a temperature range of from to F. during the hot period. Whenoperating on this basis and the decision is made to furnish water in thehigher temperature range, the switch 41 is opened and the switch 43 isclosed. The valve V is then manually set to the position wherein it isshown in FIG. 4 so that the passage 134 in the valve body 13-2establishes communication between the lead-out pipe 46 of the boiler 40and the feed pipe 18. The boiler will be set into operation and waterwill flow in a closed hydraulic circuit extending from the outlet side54 of the pump 56, through pipe 52, four-way fitting 50, lead-in pipe44, boiler 40, lead-out pipe 46, valve V, feed pipe 18, reductionorifice device R and return pipe 20 to the inlet side 64 of the pump 56.HCIIZ water within a range of from to F. will thus be made available atthe various floor levels for selective use by the tenants occupying theapartment enclosures 26, 28, 32, 34, and such tenants may, simply byopening their respective valves 72, cause hot water to flow from thefeed pipe 18, through branch conduits 92, heaters 90, and branchconduits 94 back to the return pipe 2%.

During extreme hot weather when there is little or no likelihood that atenant will have a demand for heating, the boiler 40 may be disabled byopening the disabling switch 55 and allowing the switch 57 to remainclosed so that the cooler may be operated to the exclusion of theboiler. Then, upon closure of the switch 45, the overriding coolercircuit previously described will maintain the cooler in operationcontinuously. It is to be noted that the cooler 60 is provided, not forthe purpose of supplying cooling water to .the various apartmentenclosures for direct use in the air cooling devices 104, but merely forcooling the refrigerant tubes of the condensers 102. Therefore, thecooler 60 need not have a high cooling rating since water supplied in atemperature range of from 85 to 90 F. is capable of effecting such heatextraction in the condensers as to maintain the various air conditioningunits under the control of the individual tenants in efficientoperation. Actually, the system will function efficiently in the absenceof any overriding control for the cooler 60 inasmuch as the thermostat 6will, during extremely hot weather, maintain its #1 contactscontinuously closed.

During mild weather, such as may occur in inbetween periods when theweather is not sufliciently cold as to justify continuous operation ofthe boiler 40 or continuous operation of the cooler 60, the demands ofthe various tenants of the building may differ widely. For example, thetenants who occupy easterly exposed apartment en closures, such as theenclosures 28, 34 in FIG. 1, may have a demand for cooling during themorning hours when their side of the building becomes heated by the sun.Similarly, the tenants who occupy westerly exposed apartment enclosures,such as the enclosures 26, 32, may have a demand for heating during suchmorning hours. Conversely, during the afternoon hours when the sun isheating the west side of the building, the demands of these tenants maybe the opposite. It is during such days as these that the managementwill set the ssytem into automatic operation by closing the switches4-1, 5s and s7;

and opening switches 43 and 45. If thetemperatures of waterin the systemis within the range of'f'rom .85 to 90 7 F the bime'tallic strip 150 ofthe thermostat fio will' main:

tain b'oththe' #1 and the #Z contacts of the thermostat open so that thevalve Vw'ill ass-ume the condition where? in it is shown in FIG. 3Withthe'pipes1f8 and 48 in communication and e the closed hydrauliccircuit extending four-way fitting 50, pipe 48, valve V, fee-d pipe 18,re-

instrurnentalities associated temperature of the water within the closedhydraulic system will-be promptly restored .to ,the predetermined rangeof from 85.to 90f'F. This temperature range' is.:f adequate on the onehand for heating purposesinsofar' i from the outlet side 54- of. thepump '56, through pipe '52,

duction orifice 19, and return pipe to the inlet side 64 of the pump.Water withinizthe predetermined 85 to 90 F. range is thus available inthe feed pipe 18 toany tenant who chooses to avail himself of itfor'condenser cooling purposes and all he, needs to do to obtain suchwater is to open the'val ve Vii-and close the starting switch 1 SWassociated with the air conditioning'instrumentalities under his"control.

The relatively cool water conducted to theficonde nserg 7 20.

102 through lead-inbranch conduitil l-fi assimilates much heat and isdischarged through the lead-out conduit'f 120 to the return pipe 20 atan elevated temperature.

Thus, any tenants in the easterly exposed apartment enclosures 28, 34etc. who, at any given time, resort to'cooling facilities, willautomatically cause a rise in'tem-perature of the Water in the returnpipe 2%. If'this rise in temperature carries the Water above theypredetermined 85 to 90 ,F. range, the thermostat 66 will function toclose the #2 contacts thereof and set the co:oler 60, into operation inthe mannerpreviously described in -connec tion with the circuit diagramof FIG; 6. The closed hydraulic circuit involving thecooler will extendfrom the outlet side 54 of the pump 56, through'pip'e 5'2, four-wayfitting 50, pipe 62, cooler 6%, Pipe 58, valve V, feed pipe 18,reduction device 19 and return pipe 20 to the inlet side 7 64 ofthe pump56.

The heatedwater discharged by the tenants inthe apartment enclosureshaving easterly exposures-will not necessarily raise the temperature ofWater in the return pipe 20 above thepredetermined range of from 85 to90 F., inasmuch as Water in this temperature range is adequate forheatexohangepurposes when used in the heaters 90 of the various apartmentenclosures having westerly exposures. The tenants occupying apartmentenclosures having Westerlyexposures, being shielded from the sun, mayhave a demand for heating and, in such case, it is necessary merely forthe individual tenant to open the valve V2 and admit water to the heater90. Such tenants as have a demand for heating will thus tend to balance,

so to speak, the tenants who have a demand; for cooling inasmuch as,by-their'use of hot water in the heaters 90,

. 1 2 therewith, in either event, the

as, such tenantsasymay, have a demand for heating facilities areconcerned. fotgcnoling purposesiinsofar assuch tenants as'may'have aidemandjvfor cooling facilities are concerned. Stated otherwise andbriefly, the system will automatically remain in thermal balance if thetenant demand at any given time forheatingand cooling, respectively, isequal.

If Qnedemand eXceeds the other to an appreciable de-k gree,.either' theheater 40 or the cooler 60 will. operate to restore the'thermal balance.

,The invention is not to be limited tothe exact arrangef ment of partsshown in the accompanying drawings 'or describedin this specificationasvarious changes. in the details of construction maybe resorted towithout departing from the spirit of the'inventi'on. For example, whilethe electrical circuitry shown herein .in FIG. '6 embodies.

di'rectacting thermostatic control of the valve,V, boiler.

40 and cooler 60, utilizing a thermostat of the movable contact type,other circuitry isfcontemplated. ;.In some instances, it maybe deemedadvisable to employ relayactuated circuitdevice's, including or not asdesired,

J thermionic: vacuum tube or other amplifier devices.

Duplication "or multiplication of heating and cooling instrumentalitiesor other parts of the "system is also con.-

;.templated within the scope of the invention. Therefore, 'only 'insofarasthe inventionfhasiparticularly been pointed out in the accompanyingclaim'is the same to be limited. g 7

Having thus described ,the invention, what I claim as new and. desire tosecure .by Letters Patent is;

' @In an air conditioningfsystem of the .character de scribed;iincombination, a multi-story building having a basemennsuperimposedfloors, a ceilin'g'above each floor Qdefining, in combination with thefloor immediately therebeneath, an inhabita'ble enclosure, a structuralshaft extending upwardly through, the building from the basement ceilingthrough the floors, there being a lateral.

opening in said shaftat each enclosure-level establishing communicationbetween the shaft and the enclosure at said level, awater riser pipe anda water return pipe extending upwardly in: said shaft from the basementtoa region adjacent the uppermost enclosure-level, a heat exchangedevice in each enclosure,'branch pipes extending through said lateral;openings and connecting the heat the temperature of the water is reducedand returned to the pump 56 through the return pipe 20. Therein lies oneof the principal features of the present invention."

It'is obvious that, during the afternoon hours, the demands ofthevarious tenants will be reversed but a condition of balance will stillobtain when the number of ten ants resorting to cooling facilities issubstantially equal to the number of tenants resorting to heatingfacilities.

If'the number of tenants resorting to heating facilities materiallyexceeds thenumberof tenants resorting to cooling facilities so that, bytheir discharged and cooled water, the temperature of water'in theclosed'hydraulic system falls below'the predetermined =to F.i-

range, the #1 contacts of the thermostat .66 will become closed and theboiler 40 will be set into operation in the manner previously described.in connection with the circuit diagram of FIG. 6.1 The closed hydrauliccirside of the pump 54, through pipe 52', four-way fitting 50, pipe44,b1oiler 40, lead-out'pipe 46, valve V, feed.

20 to the inlet side ,64 of the pump56.

by the action of the thermostat 66 and the electrical exchange deviceswith" the water riser and'water return pipes, a shut-off valve 'for.each .heat'exchange device and disposed in one of the branchpipesleading thereto, an air conditioning unit disposed in eachenclosure and including'a compressor,*a condenser and ;an evaporatoroperativly connected together in a refrigerant circuit, an

electric circuit forthe. motor, the condenser being. of the electriccircuit forfdisabling the same when the tem- V perature of water isabove a predetermined degree, said water riser and return pipes being.operatively. connected in a closed hydraulic circuit,fa Watercirculating pump disposedin said hydrauliccircuit andjpositioned in thecuit involving the boiler willextend from the outlet ppe 18, pressurereduction device 19, and return pipe V 1 Whether the boiler orthe coolerbe set into operation basement, a waterheater insaid basement, .a .watercooler in said basement, a solenoid-actuated control valve oper;

able selectively to connect the" heater and the cooler in ,the hydrauliccircuit, eachto. the exclusion of the other,

and to exclude both theheater and the cooler from the hydraulic,circuit, a thermostat responsive 'to' the temperature of water in saidreturn pipe, said latter thermo- It is adequate on the other hand j statbeing operable when the temperature of water in the return pipe fallsbelow a predetermined degree to actuate the control valve to connect theheater in the hydraulic circuit and being operable when the temperatureof Water in the return pipe rises above a predetermined degree toactuate the control valve to connect the cooler in the hydrauliccircuit, said heat exchange unit and evaporator being of the finnedtubing type and being physically disposed in tandem, and an electricallyoperable fan in each enclosure common to the evaporator and heatexchange unit for drawing air successively through the same.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Cornell 165-22Berry 236-1 Stair 165-22 Blurn 163-22 Hermann 165-22 Kritzer 165-50 10CHARLES SUKALO, Primary Examiner.

JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Examiner.

